Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 77

Nirukta, Phonetic Variants, and Vedic Dhātu–Svara Taxonomy

Devanagari script

ऊदृदंतैर्यौति रुक्ष्णुशूङ्स्नुनुक्षुश्चिडीङ्श्रिभिः । वृङ्वृञ्भ्यां च विनैकाचोऽजंतेषु निहताः स्मृताः ॥ ७७ ॥

Transliteration

ūdṛdaṃtairyauti rukṣṇuśūṅsnunukṣuściḍīṅśribhiḥ | vṛṅvṛñbhyāṃ ca vinaikāco'jaṃteṣu nihatāḥ smṛtāḥ || 77 ||

Translation

当依 ū-、dṛ-、dant- 所示之语法作用，并于如「yauti」之形，以及 rukṣṇu、śūṅ、snunukṣu 等词根，连同 ciḍ、īṅ、śri 诸标记，亦及 vṛṅ、vṛñ——唯除仅有一元音（eka-ac）之处；在非 ātmanepada 之词尾（a-jaṃta）中，应知相关标记为“已省略、已脱落”。

Word by Word

• ūdṛdantaiḥ: by (the forms called) ūdṛdanta
• ūdṛdantaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ūdṛdanta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• yauti: goes / is used
• yauti: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धाातु √या)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• rukṣṇuśūṅsnunukṣuḥ: (the set:) rukṣṇu, śūṅ, snunukṣu
• rukṣṇuśūṅsnunukṣuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rukṣṇu + śūṅ + snunukṣu (प्रातिपदिक; सूची-शब्दसमूह)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); enumerative listing term

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• iḍīṅśribhiḥ: by (the items) iḍīṅ and śri
• iḍīṅśribhiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: iḍīṅ + śri (प्रातिपदिक; सूची-शब्दसमूह)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); listing of items taken together

• vṛṅvṛñbhyām: by/with vṛṅ and vṛñ
• vṛṅvṛñbhyām: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṅ + vṛñ (प्रातिपदिक; धातुनाम-युग्म)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया) / Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Dual (द्विवचन); here instrumental sense with ca

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• vinā: without
• vinā: Apadana (अपादान/Separation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinā (अव्यय)
• Form: Preposition/particle meaning 'without' (वियोगार्थक अव्यय)

• ekācaḥ: (those) with a single vowel
• ekācaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka + ac (प्रातिपदिक; 'one vowel')
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: eka-ac = having one vowel

• ajanteṣu: among ajanta (ending in a vowel) forms
• ajanteṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ajanta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (usage as technical term), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• nihatāḥ: are struck/removed (i.e., elided)
• nihatāḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-han (धातु √हन्)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (क्त/कृत्), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• smṛtāḥ: are stated/considered
• smṛtāḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु √स्मृ)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); used as predicate 'are said/considered'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada technical dharma/vedanga knowledge)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It emphasizes Vedanga mastery—especially Vyakarana—as a support for dharma and moksha: correct linguistic form protects the intended meaning of mantra, scripture, and teaching.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Indirectly: Bhakti practices rely on accurate names, mantras, and recitations; this technical rule safeguards purity of utterance so devotion is expressed without distortion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyakarana: a sutra-like rule about when certain grammatical markers/augments are considered elided (nihata) under specified root/affix conditions, aiding correct derivation and recitation.